Sir Clive Woodward blamed the substitutions for the defeat and stated that the "responsibility falls on the management not the players". Lancaster responded by declaring it was a disastrous start that saw France establish a 16-3 lead with two tries from Yoann Huget that resulted in the defeat.

"I don't think the replacements were the reason we lost the game. I was certainly pleased with the impact all the substitutes made," he said. "The biggest reason we lost the game was the start more than anything else. To be 16-3 down is one hell of a mountain to climb in that arena.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing in every component piece of the game. If we'd have dealt with the kick-off, perhaps we wouldn't have conceded the first try. There are lots of ifs, buts and maybes about the game. I have to trust the squad and the one thing I've learnt is that we win and lose as a team."

He added: "I won't hang anyone out to dry or look at any decision we made in any other context than what we do next to help the team win."

Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell and Tom Wood were struck by cramp in the second half and Lancaster explains it was the demands of the match that led to the usual number of players being struck by muscle contractions.

"The amount of cramping was a reflection of the game. It was a match played at the highest intensity – the longest in duration in my time," Lancaster said. "It's a significant step up for a lot of players on what they do week in week out at their clubs, or even in Europe. It's something we need to review and look at. If there's anything we can do to prevent, we're doing it.

"It's happened to Owen a couple of times. He takes everything that you do for cramp."

Meanwhile, Jonny May is seeing a specialist late on Monday afternoon after sustaining damage to his nose, but Lancaster is "cautiously optimistic" the Gloucester winger will be fit to face Scotland on Saturday.